The U.S., now 2-0 with six points in Pool B, continues Pool B competition on Aug. 1 versus No. 3 China (2-0, 6 points) at 8 p.m. local time (noon PT). Brazil is now 1-1 with two points.

Team USA has now won the last six matches against Brazil, including twice in the recent 2012 FIVB World Grand Prix, once in the 2011 FIVB World Cup and in the final of the 2011 FIVB World Grand Prix.

The U.S. rallied from a 10-8 deficit in the first set with a 6-1 scoring to take a 14-11 advantage as the Americans finished off the set 25-18 with five of the final six points. After Brazil held an early 2-1 lead in the second set, Team USA erupted for a 16-7 lead by the second technical timeout and cruised to a 25-17 victory. The Americans produced a .460 hitting efficiency in the second set to the Brazilians’ .243. The U.S. battled back from an 8-3 lead in the third set to take a 16-15 lead, but Brazil scored four of the final five points for a 25-22 victory. Team USA built a 9-5 lead in the fourth set and maintained at least a two-point advantage the rest of the way for a 25-21 victory.

“There were some ups and downs, but we played really well,” Larson said. “We had a tough start, but we found our rhythm. Brazil is always battle, but we came strong for the win.”

“As a team we played well and improved from the first match,” Tom said. “Brazil is good technically and is fiery, so when they got ahead it was hard to catch up.”

Foluke Akinradewo (Plantation, Fla.) tacked on nine kills on 19 swings, while Christa Harmotto (Hopewell Township, Pa.) chipped in five points with four kills on attacks and a block. Lindsey Berg (Honolulu) rounded out the scoring with three kills on six attacks.

Nicole Davis (Stockton, Calif.) paced the defense with 18 digs and a team-high 23 excellent receptions on 33 attempts. Berg, who had 14 digs, set the offense to a 46.2 kill percent and .350 hitting efficiency (66-16-143). Tom added 18 excellent receptions on 23 attempts and 13 digs, while Larson recorded 12 digs.

U.S. Olympic Women's Volleyball Coach Hugh McCutcheon (Christchurch, New Zealand) started Tom and Larson at outside hitter, Akinradewo and Harmotto at middle blocker, Hooker at opposite and Berg at setter. Davis is the designated libero for the tournament. Tamari Miyashiro (Kaneohe, Hawaii) was a serving sub in all four sets, while Tayyiba Haneef-Park (Laguna Hills, Calif.) was a sub in all but the second set. Courtney Thompson (Kent, Wash.) was a sub in the first and third sets.

Brazil held advantages in blocks (7-4) and aces (3-0), but had 12 fewer kills than the Americans (66-54). Further, the Team USA defense held Brazil to a .269 hitting efficiency (54-15-145). The Americans held a 71-55 margin in digs and produced a higher service reception percent (74.6 to 71.6).

“There are lots of different styles being played at the tournament and everyone has a different method to their madness and plays to different strengths,” Larson said. “The Russians are big and tall and very powerful, whereas teams like Korea are very clever and run combos. They’re both difficult to play against, but it’s probably more difficult to play against big sides like Russia.”

The preliminary round consists of a six-team round robin played every other day. The top four teams in each of the two pools advance to the Aug. 7 quarterfinals with the pool winner facing the crossover fourth-place team. The second- and third-place teams drawn into quarterfinal lots against the opposite pool. The semifinal round takes place on Aug. 9, followed by the medal round on Aug. 11.

Team USA gained the first two-point separation of the first set at 6-4 with Larson kill and Brazil error. Brazil reversed the lead at 8-7 at the first technical timeout with three straight points including two USA errors. Brazil scored a fourth straight point out of the break to reach a 9-7 advantage. The Americans leveled the score at 10-all on a Hooker kill and Larson block. Harmotto took a quick set for a kill after a Brazil service error the U.S. 12-11 advantage, then Brazil attacked into the net for a 13-11 American lead. Out of a Brazil timeout, Hooker put up a block for a fourth straight point on Akinradewo’s serve at 14-11. Brazil chipped off two points of the deficit at 14-13. Team USA answered with a Brazil service error and Larson block to go into the second technical timeout leading 16-13. The U.S. extended the lead to 20-16 with a Tom kill and Brazil setting error prompting a Brazil second timeout. Hooker powered down a kill and Larson followed with three consecutive kills to extend the American lead to 24-17 on a 4-0 run of Tom’s service. Larson ended the set with seven points as the Americans connected on 15 of 36 attacks for points with a 3-0 block advantage.

The U.S. reached a 4-2 lead in the early stages of the second set with an Akinradewo kill and consecutive kills by Larson. Team USA expanded its lead to 6-3 with a Harmotto kill and Berg setter dump leading into a Brazil timeout. Hooker notched kills on each side of the first technical timeout to increase the lead to 9-5. Team USA built a 14-7 margin with two Hooker kills around two Brazil attack error. Out of a Brazil timeout, Akinradewo pounded an overpass and Tom spiked an attack for a sixth straight point on her own serve to go into the second technical timeout leading 16-7. The U.S. lead reached double digits at 20-10 consecutive power spikes by Harmotto and Hooker. Brazil sliced two points off the deficit at 22-14. Brazil saved two set points before Hooker ended the set at 25-17 with a kill. Hooker scored six points in the second set, while Larson and Tom added another five points. Team USA held a .460 hitting efficiency in the second set.

Brazil took a 4-2 lead in the third set with a service ace and increased its margin to 6-3 following a USA attack error. After a USA timeout, Brazil stretched the margin to 8-3 with its fourth straight point going into the first technical timeout. Brazil committed a service error and attack error to bring the U.S. to 8-5. Hooker nailed an attack after a Brazil error to trim the deficit to 9-7. Tom and Hooker slammed back-to-back kills to close the deficit to 11-10. Brazil expanded its lead to 15-12 with an American attack error. The U.S. responded with a Hooker kill after a Brazil service error to return within one at 15-14, then Tom hit off the block to level the score at 15-all. Harmotto put a block to put the U.S. into the lead at 16-15 on a fourth consecutive point on Larson’s serve. Brazil reversed the lead at 20-19 and then broke a 21-all tie with four of the final five points for a 25-22 victory. Hooker scored eight points in the third set to lead the Americans.

Team USA grabbed a 3-1 lead in the fourth set with an Akinradewo kill and Brazil attack error. Team USA expanded the lead to 7-4 with a Tom kill and Larson spike after saving a digging a couple hard spikes. The Americans expanded their advantage to 9-5 with a Brazil service error and Hooker spike off the block. Brazil scored back-to-back points to cut the gap in half at 10-8, then pulled to within one at 11-10 on an attack error by the U.S. Hooker pocketed consecutive kills to yield a 14-11 cushion going into a Brazil timeout. Out of the break Berg tipped for a kill for a 15-11 lead. Brazil cut the gap in half at 18-16, but the U.S. responded with kills from Larson and Hooker to regain a four-point edge at 20-16. Brazil collected consecutive points to move to within two at 21-19. Team USA reach set and match point at 24-21 on a service error, then Tom rolled a shot over the block for the winner at 25-21.